Which GPS tracker to buy for your dog or cat
Which tracker to buy to see your pet on Miloop's map: a verified 4G GPS with a SIM, what to check before buying and which SIM to use.
To see your pet on Miloop’s map wherever you are, you need a GPS tracker with a SIM card. It’s the only kind that sends its position over the internet. This guide says what to buy and what to check before paying. If you want to compare more models by price, protocol and compatibility evidence, open the compatible tracker catalogue. Prices and delivery times are from 3 October 2026 and change, so check them before buying. The links go to Amazon.es (Spain).
The recommended one: Winnes / TKSTAR TK935 4G
The Winnes / TKSTAR TK935 4G is on Traccar’s official device list with the watch protocol, which Miloop understands. It was €69.98 on Amazon.es (price checked on 3 October 2026).
It’s a big unit: 94 × 46 × 31 mm and a 3000 mAh battery according to the listing, designed for livestock, so it mostly makes sense for a large dog. We only recommend verified models; we’re testing more and will add them to the catalogue.
What to check on any GPS tracker
- It lets you change the server by SMS. That’s what lets it send its position to Miloop. If the maker doesn’t allow it, Miloop can’t receive its location.
- It’s 4G or LTE, not 2G only. 2G-only devices still work on some networks but their days are numbered: buy 4G.
- It uses a protocol Miloop understands: watch, h02, gt06, gps103/tk103, huabao, xexun or teltonika. Many listings say “Traccar compatible”.
- It comes with no subscription of its own, and what SIM size it takes.
- It lasts several days per charge and is water resistant.
Common brands that usually qualify: TKSTAR, Winnes, SinoTrack, Concox. A SinoTrack collar model, for instance, is usually bought on AliExpress.
Which SIM to use
Miloop needs a SIM with data and SMS, no PIN, in the size the device takes. At one position per minute we estimate 30 to 60 MB a month (our own estimate, based on what Traccar users report), so any plan with a few GB is plenty.
Plans seen on 3 October 2026 (Spain):
| Carrier | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| DIGI | 5 GB and 100 minutes | €3/month |
| Simyo | 15 GB and 120 minutes | €3.50/month |
| Things Mobile | pay as you go | €0.12/MB, no monthly fee and a €5 activation fee |
Two warnings: without data roaming between countries, the GPS stops sending outside Spain, and you’ll need to text the device the APN (your carrier’s internet settings). We explain it in the setup guide.
Another option: LoRaWAN GPS, no SIM
Some GPS collars use LoRaWAN instead of a SIM: you pay no data, but they only work where there are LoRaWAN gateways nearby (the community The Things Network, or your own with ChirpStack) and positions arrive every few minutes, not live. The collar needs a payload formatter that outputs latitude and longitude; most LoRa models have one in the TTN device repository. Check gateway coverage where you walk before buying. We don’t recommend a specific model because we haven’t verified any.
If you only want to know whether they’re nearby: a Bluetooth tag
Any Bluetooth Low Energy tag tells you whether your pet is near your phone (no exact distance) and shows on the map where your phone last detected it, approximately; also with Miloop closed if you turn it on and allow location “All the time”. Making it ring or reading its battery only works if the tag offers the standard Bluetooth alert and battery services, and many don’t. We don’t recommend a specific model.
It does not show it on the map once it’s away, nor alert you when it leaves a zone. For that you need a GPS with a SIM.
What you don’t need (and can’t use) to buy
AirTag, SmartTag, Find Hub, Tile, Chipolo, Tractive, Weenect or Kippy don’t show on Miloop’s map: their makers don’t let other apps read their location. If you already have one, you can link it to your pet and open its app from Miloop in one tap.
Once you have your tracker, follow the setup guide, check the full compatible model catalogue and see everything Locate does.